International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) |Volume VI, Issue V, May 2021|ISSN 2454-6194 Community-based Ecotourism Potential: A Case Study of Sankana Slave Caves in Nadowli-Kaleo District of Upper West Region, Ghana Cornelius K.A. Pienaah1*, Bruno Berewono2, Danganaa Mahama3, Jane Akanzum4 1Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, University for Development Studies, Ghana 2Faculty of Integrated Development Studies, Department of Social and Development Administration, Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Ghana 3Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, University for Development Studies, Ghana 4College of Art and Built Environment, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University for Science and Technology, Ghana *Corresponding Author Abstract: A major feature of the Upper West Region is its ancient „purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture caves. The caves found in Sankana, Bulenga and Dahili, were and natural history of the environment, taking care not to alter places of refuge for the inhabitants who were fleeing the slave the integrity of the ecosystem, while producing economic raiders. Slave Camps can be found at Pizaga and Dolbizon and opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources Slave market at Kassana and Salaga in the Upper East and beneficial to local people (OMT, 2014, p. 15‟ cited in Yasu C. Savannah Regions respectively. The study explored on the potential, strategies as well as effects of developing the Sankana Martinez and Mara Rosas Baños). Slave Caves as an ecotourism destination in light of the main In general, ecotourism provides many jobs to Ghanaians and pillars of sustainable development (economic, social/cultural, and has enormous potential as a catalyst for future economic and environmental). The study adopted a mixed method approach. social development throughout the entire West African Questionnaires and FGD guides were employed to solicit views from participants. The study revealed that, the community Regions. According to Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA, members fully embraced the idea of ecotourism development in 2018), the tourism industry maintained its position as the 4th the community with emphasis that the slave caves development highest foreign exchange earner for the country after cocoa, would serve as tool for poverty alleviation and livelihood gold and oil & gas. International arrivals increased by 5% enhancement through income generation related activities. Also, from 980,141 persons in 2017 to 1,029,148.05 in 2018 while there would be an increase in tourists spending due to the direct corresponding receipts increased by 5.1 % from US$1,854.8 sell of pottery, calabash art, wood, grass art, leather art, smock million in 2017 to US$1,947.5 million contributing 4.9% to weaving, guest homes, food vending as well increase the cultural GDP. In terms of employment there was an increase in total capital of the community. A three-prong strategy modelled on number of jobs (direct & indirect jobs) created by the tourism educative and, entertainment approach, and the use of tour operators were identified as strategies to attract tourists to the sector from 550,000 in 2017 to 602,425 in 2018. Out of which site. This study has made contributions to how community direct jobs provided by the tourism sector rose from 135,000 ecotourism development can be used as a strategic tool for in 2017 to 158,231 in 2018. Ecotourism however, has become poverty alleviation as in the case of Sankana slave caves in the a competitive business for tourism destinations all over the Kaleo-Nadowli district in the Upper West Region. world. Competitive advantage is no longer natural, but Keywords: Ecotourism, Economic effect, Environmental effect, increasingly man made, driven by science, technology Slave Caves, Socio-cultural effect, Sustainable development. information and innovation. As such it is not simply the stock of natural resources of Ghana that will determine her share in I. INTRODUCTION the tourism market, but rather how these resources are cotourism is the practice of traveling to relatively less managed and integrated with other competences to create a E exploited natural destinations to appreciate the natural competitive advantage for sustainable tourism. This settings, acquire knowledge about wildlife, and enjoy local phenomenon is not different in the Upper West Region. This cultures in authentic settings while conserving the deserves not only the attention of the Nadowli-Kaleo and the environments of the destinations (Wallace, 2019, Lee & Jan, tourism institutions, but also concerns of corporate 2019). The significant features of ecotourism include the organizations and individuals to find a lasting solution to the enrichment of nature as well as promoting local cultures, challenge. traditions and lifestyles in order to attract travelers to visit an Eco-tourism in the Low- and Middle-Income Countries area (Cobbinah, 2015; Fleischer, 2010). It is also defined as (LMICs) has great potentials in raising living standards in www.rsisinternational.org Page 111 International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) |Volume VI, Issue V, May 2021|ISSN 2454-6194 rural areas because the customer comes to the product creating approximately 14km from Wa, the regional capital. The opportunities for direct sell, social interaction including other people are largely Dagaabas, Christians, traditional believers benefits like donations to communities. It is not surprising that and Muslims, and speaks the Dagaari language. Personal the Millennium Development Goals (MDG‟s) identified observation indicates that farming is the main source of tourism development as a significant contributor to poverty livelihood followed by Pito brewing and fishing. The total alleviation. Tourism, one of the world's top job creators and a population of the Upper West Region is 702,110, with lead export sector, especially for Low- and Middle-Income Sankana having a total population of 2,639 (Ghana Statistical Countries (LMICs) countries, can play a significant role in the Service (GSS), 2012). According to the 2010 Population and achievement of MDGs 1 - eradication of poverty, MDG 3 - Housing Census (PHC), the Nadowli-Kaleo District has a total gender equality, MDG 7- environmental sustainability and population of 61,561 (GSS, 2012). Going by the international MDG 8 - global partnerships for development. Tourism has standard for the definition of an urban settlement, which the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly to all of the defines an urban community as any community with a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, it has population of 5,000 or more, many of the communities under been included as targets in Goals 8, 12 and 14 on inclusive the District, including Sankana has not attained an urban and sustainable economic growth, sustainable consumption status. The community lies in the guinea savannah agro- and production (SCP) and the sustainable use of oceans and ecological zone with surrounded scenic rock formations marine resources, respectively. covering a four sq.km area. Under this rock formation is a network of caves, which served as bunkers for protection Tourists to Ghana are welcomed by an array of tourist against slave raiders. Sankana is popular throughout Ghanaian attractions across the country including the Independence history for its rock formation network of caves. The Sankana Arch, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, the European Forts and community has an almost entirely rolling topography. The Castles among a host of others. In the Upper West Region, height of the land is generally between 275m and 300m above apart from the Sankana Slaves caves if developed, tourists can sea level, except eastwards of Wa where the land rises above also visit the Gwollu slave defense walls, the 18th century 300m above sea level. The community has a large irrigation mosque of Nakori, the Kwame Nkrumah detention camp at dam which serves for both industrial and domestic purposes, Lawra, and the Wechiau hippo sanctuary as well as the Wa fishing, farming and others. An important characteristic of this Naa‟s palace all in the Upper West Region among others. dam is it‟s continues flow. The source of water supply for the Over the years, ecotourism development has been problematic dam is rainfall. in the Upper West Region of Ghana. One potential ecological 2.2 Method. attraction which has been given no attention is the Sankana slave caves in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study adopted a mixed method approach. On quantitative method, a questionnaire was designed and administered to On the basis of this, the study intends to examine the full find out the potential economic, socio-cultural and potentials of the Sankana Slave Caves as tool for environmental effects of ecotourism in the community. Two- environmental, socio-cultural, and economic benefits which hundred (200) respondents were accidentally interviewed for constitute the three principles of sustainable development and the quantitative analysis. On the other hand, a qualitative explore strategies and recommendations in sustainable method, including seven (7 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) ecotourism development in the Upper West Region. participants (key stakeholders) were identified through the II. METHODOLOGY opinions of the 200